Adjustable collar for resuscitators and respirators



J y 1958 J; E. LINDLEY ETIWAL 2,841,140

ADJUSTABLE COLLAR FOR RESUSCITATORS AND RESPIRATORS Filed Nov. 28, 1955l I INVENTORS Jaimztlz'naze Ana? .5. L z'mzZe y ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent i ADJUSTABLE COLLAR FOR RESUSCITATORS AND RESPIRATORS John E.Lindley, Houston, Tex., and Ancil L. Lindley, Macon, Miss.

Application November 28, 1255, Serial No. 549,351

8 Claims. (Cl. 12830) This invention relates to an adjustable collar foruse in resuscitators and respirators.

The collar construction disclosed herein is particularly adapted for useon a resuscitator such as disclosed in our copending application SerialNo. 532,866, filed on September 7, 1955, but it is to be understood thatour novel and improved collar is adapted for use in any respirator orresuscitator wherein the body or head of a patient, or both, is enclosedin a pressure chamber.

In all resuscitators or respirators, such as the widely known iron lung,one of the major problems has been the development of a collar whichwill seal at the neck of the patient without undue constrictions orharmful or uncomfortable irritation. It must be sanitary, easily andquickly applied and removed, be capable of complete replacement withsimplicity and ease when it becomes necessary, be adaptable to widelyvarying neck sizes, and must permit the skin of the patient at the neckto breathe.

In prior collar structures use has been made of a sponge rubber neckring, and also a spiral twist neck collar, the latter type beingillustrated in detail in our copending application, Serial No. 532,866.In the case of the sponge rubber collars an aperture was formed in thesheet of sponge and the head of the patient inserted therethrough,stretching the rubber, the resilience causing it to then grip the neck.It was necessary to size the opening and thus the collar to the patient,since while there was some adjustability in the rubber, the margin wasvery small. It was found that a rather small inaccuracy made the collartoo tight for comfort or too loose for a proper seal. Further, thesponge sheet was fragile and slow and difiicult to apply.

An attempt was made to cut the collar from the aperture to one edge, andthen seal the cut with a tape. It was still necessary to size the collarto the patient, and the application to the patient still proved to be aslow and cumbersome procedure.

An object of the invention is to provide a collar which will provide anefficient air tight seal around the neck of patients in resuscitators orrespirators where different pressures of gases, either positive ornegative, are desired to be placed on either the head or body of thepatient.

A further object is to provide a sponge rubber collar which can beapplied with great rapidity in an accurate snug fit regardless of theneck size of the patient.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a collar of a soft,non-traumatizing and non-irritating elastic material that can form anair-tight seal against the patients neck without damaging the skin orinterfering with the circulation of blood in the patients neck area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collar than can beapplied with ease and rapidity, making it especially useful in the caseof apnea of a new born infant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collar which can beeasily replaced as a unit, or can be easily disassemb ed for cleaning.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sponge rubbercollar wherein the area that is axially mov- 2,841,140 Patented July 1,1958 2 able is relatively small, thereby reducing the amount of frictionon the patients neck, and making rapid changes of pressure on eitherside of the collar more easily accomplished.

Another object of the invention is to form a collar wherein changes ofpressure on either side do not produce increased pressure of the collaragainst the patients neck.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collar which has apermanent split between the aperture and one side edge, permitting aresuscitator or respirator construction which will open midway in ahorizontal plane, thus allowing easier initial placement of the patientand greater accessibility for examination and treatment.

A final object of the invention is to provide'a collar which meets allbasic requirements and is at the same time durable and inexpensive tomanufacture.

With the above and other objects in view as will be presently apparent,the invention consists in general of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference denote likeparts in the several views, and

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line 1-1 ofFig. 2, showing a resuscitator with the collar construction of thepresent invention applied to the partition between head and bodycompartments; and

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, andshowing the collar construction in front elevation.

The resuscitator structure illustrated in the drawings does not form apart of this application and is therefore shown in simplified form forgreater clarity. The invention resides in the sealing collar and itsrelated parts which will be hereinafter fully described.

In the present disclosure the collar is shown as applied to an infantresuscitator. The resuscitator comprises an elongated pressure chamberwhich is divided by the partition 10 into a head compartment 11 and bodycompartment 12. The partition 10 is divided into a rectangular lowerplate 13 and an arcuate upper plate 14. A cover 15 which is arcuate intransverse cross-section is hingedly connected to the pressure chamberand covers both compartments. A seal 16 is provided for the edges of thecover and a resilient strip 17 seals the meeting edges of the partitionplates 13 and 14.

An arcuate notch 18 in the lower plate 13 and a similar arcuate notch 19in the upper plate 14 provide a relatively large neck opening when thecover is closed. It will be noted the the upper plate 14 is secured tothe cover. While the present illustration, therefore, shows the collarstructure as applied to a split partition, it can be equally wellapplied to a unitary partition or wall, such as occurs in manyrespirators.

A floor partition 20 supports the body of the patient and the resilientblock 21 supports the head. The head compartment is provided with ahinged door 41 which opens outwardly to give full access to the collarstructure when the cover 15 is closed.

The basic element of the collar structure of the present invention isthe sponge rubber sheet 22. This sheet has a generally curved marginaledge which conforms somewhat to the shape of the partition 10. The sheet22 is provided with a neck aperture 23, and a cut is made through thesheet extending from the aperture 23 to the marginal edge, the cutforming two free ends 24 and 25 which are made to overlap to any degreenecessary to obtain a properly sized neck opening.

A bar is bent to form a horseshoe shaped clamping member 26, which hasan arcuate upper portion 27 and depending legs 28a and 28b. To providesockets for the ends of said legs eyes 29 are screwed into therectangular 3. lower plate 13 adjacent the lower edge thereof. Each ofsaid legs 28a and 28b is provided with a transversely projecting stud 30which serves as a stop to limit the downward movement of the legs withinthe eyes 29.

Above the arcuate upper portion 27 of the clamping member 26, there isplaced an L-shaped latch 31. The latch has a threaded end 32 which isengaged with a cooperatively threaded aperture 33 that is drilled andtapped into the plate 14. The opposite end of the latch 31 is bentoutwardly to form a shoulder 34 and then bent inwardly upon itself toform a hook end 35. The cooperating threads of the end 32 and aperture33 cause the latch 31 to move inwardly as it is turned down intolatching position.

To support and clamp the sponge rubber sheet 22 at the points betweenthe legs 28 there is provided an arcuate plate 36. Bolts 37 with wingnuts 38 secure the plate 36 to the lower plate 13 and the sponge rubbersheet is clamped between said plates. The purpose of the separate plate36 is to support the lower portion ofthe sponge rubber sheet when theclamping member 27 is removed. This prevents complete collapse anddisengagement of the collar and is important where speed is critical inasphyxia cases. It will be understood that if desired the plate 36 couldhave its ends secured to the legs of the clamping member 26, forming asimplified structure, but without the advantage just described.

In order to secure a tight gas seal between the overlapping ends 24 and25, a flat projection 39 extends radially from the edge of the arcuatenotch 18 at a point behind the overlapping ends. This is shown as an eyebut may be any suitable flat projection which is rounded to reducedanger of injury to the patient. In overlying clamping relation with theflat projection 39 is a plate 40 which extends from the leg 28b to thearcuate upper portion 27. This is preferably attached to the inner faceof the clamping member 26, so that a slightly greater pressure will beapplied to the overlapping ends 24 and 25 than will be applied to theother parts of the sponge rubber sheet by the clamping member 26.

The operation of the novel collar structure is as follows:

It is assumed that the resuscitator cover is collar structure beingdisassembled, with the lower portion held by the plate 36, the upperportion falling limply and the ends 24 and 25 being free. The patient isinserted into the pressure chamber with the body on the floor partition2% and the head on the block 21. The cover is closed and clamped. Thesponge rubber sheet 22 is then adjusted around the neck'of the patientand the ends 24 and 25 overlapped to provide an opening of the exactsize desired. The legs 28a and 28b of the horseshoeshaped clampingmember 26 are then inserted in the eyes 29, the studs 30 limiting themovement therein. The member 26 is then pivoted inwardly and pressedagainst the sponge rubber sheet. After that the latch 31 is pivoteddownwardly, moving inwardly because of the threaded end 32, the shoulder34 pressing downwardly on the arcuate upper portion 27 of the clampingmember and the hook end 35 forcing the clamping member inwardly. Theplate presses the ends 24 and 25 strongly against the projection 39. Acomplete seal is effected, therefore, at all points, the whole operationrequiring a minimum amount of time.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an adjustable collar for resuscitators and respirators having aplanar wall and a neck aperture formed therein, a sheet of resilientsealing material positioned against said walls, said sheet having aneck-receiving aperture formed therein and a cut therethrough extendingopen, the

from the edge of said aperture to the edge of said sheet forming twofree ends adapted to be overlapped for adjustment of said neck aperture,clamping means supported by said wall and adapted to surround saidaperture and press against said sheet to maintain a sealing relationbetween said sheet and wall, and additional clamping means supported bysaid first clamping means and pressing against said overlapped ends formaintaining a sealing relation therebetween.

2. In an adjustable collar for resuscitators and respirators having aplanar wall and a neck aperture formed therein, a sheet of resilientsealing material positioned against said wall, said sheet having aneck-receiving aperture formed therein and a cut therethrough extendingfrom the edge of said aperture to the edge of said sheet forming twofree ends adapted to be overlapped for adjustment of said neck aperture,releasable clamping} means surrounding said aperture and pressingagainst said sheet to maintain a sealing relation between said sheet andwall, additional clamping means supported by said first clamping meansand pressing against said overlapped ends for maintaining a sealingrelation therebetween, and latch means releasably holding said clampingmeans in clamping position.

3. In a collar for resuscitators and respirators having a planar walland a neck aperture formed therein, a sheet of resilient sealingmaterial positioned against said wall, said sheet having aneck-receiving aperture formed therein and a cut therethrough extendingfrom the edge of said aperture to the edge of said sheet forming twofree ends adapted to be overlapped for adjustment of said neck aperture,a horseshoe-shaped clamping element pressing against said sheet, asecond clamping element extending between the legs of saidhorseshoe-shaped clamping element and pressing against said sheet, andmeans supported by said horseshoe-shaped clamping element and pressingagainst said overlapping ends to maintain a sealing relationtherebetween.

4. In a collar for resuscitators and respirators having a planar walland a neck aperture formed therein, a sheet of resilient sealingmaterial positioned against said wall, said sheet having aneck-receiving aperture formed therein and a cut therethrough extendingfrom the edge of said aperture to the edge of said sheet forming twofree ends adapted to be overlapped for adjustment of said neck aperture,a horseshoe-shaped clamping element pressing against said sheet, asecond clamping element extending between the legs of saidhorseshoe-shaped clamping element and pressing against said sheet,socket means receiving the free ends of said legs, releasable latchmeans engaging the horseshoe-shaped clamping element and holding it inclamping position, and means supported by said horseshoe-shaped clampingelement pressing against said overlapping ends to retain a sealingrelation therebetween.

5. In a collar for resuscitators and respirators having a planar walland a neck aperture formed therein, a sheet of resilient sealingmaterial positioned against said wall, said sheet having a neckreceiving aperture formed therein and a cut therethrough extending fromthe edge of said aperture to the edge of said sheet forming 'two freeends adapted to be overlapped for adjustment of said neck aperture,clamping means surrounding said wall aperture and pressing against saidsheet, a projection extending from said wall aperture radially thereofand positioned behind said overlapping free ends, and auxiliary clampingmeans supported by said clamping means and positioned to overlie saidprojection, whereby said overlapping ends will be clamped between saidprojection and said plate to elfect a seal.

6. In a collar for resuscitators and respirators having a planar walland a neck-receiving aperture formed therein, a sheet of resilientsealing material positioned against said wall, said sheet having aneck-receiving aperture formed therein and a cut therethrough extendingfrom the edge of said aperture to the edge of said sheet forming twofree ends adapted to be overlapped for adjustment of said neck aperture,a horseshoe-shaped clamping member pressing against said sheet, aclamping plate secured to said wall and extending between the legs ofsaid horseshoe-shaped clamping member, a flat projection extending fromsaid wall aperture radially thereof and positioned behind saidoverlapping free ends, and plate means supported by saidhorseshoe-shaped clamping member and positioned to overlie said flatprojection, whereby said overlapping ends will be clamped between saidprojection and said plate to effect a seal.

7. In a collar for resuscitators and respirators having a planar walland a neck-receiving aperture formed therein, a sheet of resiientsealing material positioned against said wall, said sheet having aneck-receiving aperture formed therein and a cut therethrough extendingfrom the edge of said aperture to the edge of said sheet forming twofree ends adapted to be overlapped for adjustment of said neck aperture,a horseshoe-shaped clamping member pressing against said sheet, aclamping plate secured to said wall and extending between the legs ofsaid horseshoe-shaped clamping member, socket means receiving the endsof said legs, a latch member engaging the closed end of said clampingmember and pressing said member downwardly into said sockets andinwardly against said sheet, a flat projection extending from said wallaperture radially thereof and positioned behind said overlapping freeends, and plate means supported by said horseshoe-shaped clamping memberand positioned to overlie said flat projection, whereby said overlappingends will be clamped between said projection and said plate to effect aseal.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein said latch is L-shaped,one end thereof being threadedly engaged with said wall, the other endbeing offset outwardly and downwardly defining a shoulder engaging theend of said clamping member and a projection engaging the side face ofsaid clamping member.

References Cited in the file of this patent

